Mouth-brush.



No. 781,292. I I I PATENTED JAN. 31, 1905.

J. M. MUR]:"I-I[REIEL MOUTH BRUSH.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 23, 1904.

WHMMQM g UNITED STAT S Patented January 31, 190 5.

PATENT .OFFIcE. 7

JAMES M. MURPHREE, OF DOTHAN, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO-HANSFORDD. BOYD, JR, OF TROY, ALABAMA.

MOUTH-BRUSH.

SPECIFICATION fbrming'partof Letters Patent N0. 781,292, dated. J anuary31, 1905. i Application filed. April 2.3, 1904. Serial No. 204=.658.

. T aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES M. MURPHREE, a citizen of the United .States,residing at Dothan, inthe county of Houston, and State of Alabama. haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Mouth-Brushes, of whichlatter comprising the essential feature of my invention.

The securing member above mentioned is so mounted upon the handle of thearticle as to be susceptible of ready detachment or attachment, so as toadmit of removal of the brush element or cleansing device for anypurpose which may be necessary in the actual use of the invention.

For a full description of the invention andthe merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is tobe had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings. I

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention aresusceptible of modification, still the preferred embodimentof-theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a perspective view of abrush device embodying my invention.Fig. 2 is a horizontal longitudinal. sectional view showing more clearlythemanner of attaching the massaging device or brush' element. proper.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view'of the securing member by whichthemassaging device 1s held in position. Flg. 41s a view similar to Fig. 3,showing a modified form of securing member for holding the massaging orcleansing device.

in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

, As is well known, it is very desirable in the i use of brushes of anyform that the brush element be removable either to admit of a thoroughdrying of the same if it has been wet in theuse of the brush, so as toprevent rotting thereof, or to admit of detachment of the old brushelement and use of a new one in itsstead. When the brush element may bereadily removed in a manner just above mentioned, it will be seen thatthe handle and securing parts need not be reproduced, but aresusceptible of use with any number of brush elements, thereby savingexpense arising from the necessity of buying a new article entire.

It is with the above and other objects and advantages in view that 1have constructed my invention, and in its preferred form the sameconsists, specifically,'of three essential partsa handle 1, the brushelement 2, which constitutes the cleansing or massaging device proper,"and the securing member 3. The handle 1 may be of any form admitting ofready grasping thereof in theoperation of the brushing device and ismade tubular at one end, as shown 2134:. The tubular portion of thebrush may be constructed integral therewith or otherwise,.as found mostsuitable in the practical manufacture of the article. This tubularportion aforesaid coopto the handle. The brush element 2 may be made ofsuitable materialsuch as'brush fiber, sponge-rubber, or the likeand isengaged by the securing member 3' when fastened to the handle. Thesecuring member 3'is ofa peculiar structure, being of U form,preferably, and having spaced arms 5. The spaced arms 5 are adapted toembrace the brush element 2 upon opposite sides and by. a bindingengagement therewith to -rigidly secure' the same to the handle 1. Eachof the spaced arms 5 of the securing member 3 are provided with engagingmeans or engaging members 6 1n the form of integral pro ectionslaterally bular portion of the handle 1.

extended therefrom, which projections are adapted to engage in anannular groove 7 or similar part provided upon the inner periphery ofthe tubular portion 4: of the handle. The spaced arms 5 of the securingmember 3 are adapted for a spring movement toward and from each other,the normal tendency of said arms being to spring away from each other.The inner ends of the arms 5 are adapted to be received within thetubular portion of the handle 1 to admit of engagement of theprojections 6 in the groove portions 7 of the part 4. When engaged inthe groove, the projections are normally held in such engagement by thespring action of the arms 5 and firmly prevent accidental displacementof the brush element Qfrom the handle. This brush element 2, however,may be quickly and easily detached for any of the purposes which havebeen before pointed out by slight operation of the arms 5 todisengage'the projections or engaging members 6 from the tu- Thesecuring member 3 is adapted to embrace the brush element 2 aboutcentrally of the upper and lower portions thereof, and this is of nosmall advantage in that either the upper or lower portions of the brushelement may be utilized as a rubbing or cleaning portion. Again, theelement 2 may engage the brush element nearer the upper portion thereofthan the lower portion, and thereby the degree of flexibility of suchportions may be varied, dependentlupon the location of the member 3aforesaic. A

The brush, as above described, is very simple in eonstuction andoperation and may be manufactured at a comparatively inexpensive price,at the same time being capable of rendering a maximum degree of serviceas regards the length of its use.

Though my invention may be used for cleansing the teeth, it is primarilydesigned for massaging the gums of the mouth, and in this capacity itwill be readily seen that it is particularly advantageous, the massagingor cleansing device being detachable, especially for the purpose ofcleaning the same. When the device is used for massaging purposes, thepart 2 is preferably made of sponge-rubber, and this part may be eitherused alone or in connection with antiseptic solutions, as found best fortreatment of the diseased gums, as the case maybe.

The modified form of the securing member embodied in Fig. 4 shows thespaced arms 5 of separate formation and not integral,as illustrated inFig. 3. These arms are connected at one end by a spring member 8, whichis preferably made of silver wire or of metal which is not likely torust. The spring element 8 affords a strong connection between the arms5 and clamps the massaging or cleansing device firmly in holding'thelatter in position. The arms 5 of the modified construction of thesecuring member 3 are curved inwardly at their outer ends and areprovided with projecting portions 6, as hereinbefore described withrelation to this part, which portions 6 are designed to cooperate withthe groove 7 in the tubular part t in a manner clearly set forth.

There is nothing about my brush which is likely to tarnish or rust, andthe structure of the device is designed so as not to be deletev rious tothe health of the person using same in any manner whatsoever, which isof no small importance in an article of the class to which my inventionrelates.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In amouth-brush, the combination of a handle, a cleansing device, a securingmember comprising spaced spring-arms engaging the cleansing device, andengaging members projected from the spring-arms aforesaid into positiveinterlocking engagement with the handle.

2. In a mouth-brush, the combination of a handle provided with a tubularportion having an annular groove upon the inner periphery thereof, abrush element, a securing member composed of spaced arms curved inwardlyat their outer ends and embracing the brush element aforesaid, a springconnecting the inner ends of the spaced arms aforesaid, and projectionsextended from the spaced arms between the ends thereof and interlockingwith the groove in the tubular portion of the handle aforesaid.

3. In a mouth-brush, the combination of a handle provided with a tubularportion having an annular groove upon the inner periphery thereof, abrush element, a spring securing member having spaced spring-armspartially received in the tubular portion of the handle, said securingmember engaging the brush element aforesaid, and projections extendedfrom the spring-arms of the securing member between the ends of saidarms and interlocking in the grooved portion of the tubular portion ofthe handle.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M. MURPHREE.

Witnesses:

ROBT. Born, S. 0. SMITH.

